You might remember singing the song "this is my commandment that you love one another, that your joy may be full". This quote from C.S. Lewis reminded me of that song and the verse that inspired it.
John 15:11 - "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Why does God want our joy to be full? What does that mean for us? What allows our joy to be full?
The scriptures leading up to and after John 15:11 are the instructions for having a joyful life. The answer is overwhelmingly LOVE. Love abiding in us, God's love abiding in us allows us to walk joyfully because we are not holding onto anger and resentment toward anyone. Instead, we see them with the eyes of love, almost with rose colored glasses. It's as if we see people as Christ sees them.
We know we are capable of loving like Jesus does. We are able to grow in areas where we are weak. Where we are weak, He is strong. The first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:35-38) is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. We are also to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39-40) Jesus is our example for everything. If we don't know where to start, we look at Jesus and find our answer. Abide in Him, and He will abide in you. His love will abide in you.
One thing I have learned is that it is hard to be angry at someone you are praying for. If you find someone is hard to love, start praying for them. I guarantee God will change your heart for that person. He will knit your heart to them, and they won't even realize it. I speak this from experience. Some of my best friends were people I could not stand to be around when I first met them. But God laid them on my heart, and as I began to pray for them, He filled me with a deeper love for them, and I saw them differently.
When we choose to love people as God loves them, joy fills our hearts, our thoughts, our talk, our complete lives. Let's choose love today. God wants us to walk in joy. Joy is not contingent upon our circumstances. This is important to know. It is completely contingent on your walk with God and your love walk. We are more effective at pointing people to Christ when our joy tank is full. Have you ever met a grumpy Christian and then they told you about Jesus? Would you want what they have? No! Let them see that in all circumstances we can give thanks, and walk in love with joy following us wherever we go. I am walking this out, too!
Father, we know that when our faith is put to the test, it is proved genuine. We rejoice in you with a glorious, inexpressible joy. Thank you for giving us joy in our journey. I pray that our joy will be full as we choose to love others, and to bless them as you have blessed and loved us. Thank you for the promises in your word that lead us back to you, to a relationship with you, that stands the test of time. We love you, God. I lift up my friends to you and ask you to fill their love buckets up so they can be a light of joy wherever they go, a beacon of light that points them to Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen!
